Urawa routs Thai champions in ACL

SAITAMA – Urawa Reds thrashed Thailand’s 10-man Muangthong United 4-1 for their first victory in the Asian Champions League in five years on Tuesday.

Goals from Yosuke Kashiwagi, Kunimitsu Sekiguchi and Genki Haraguchi and a Muangthong own goal sent Reds to their first points in Group F of Asia’s flagship club competition, which they won at Saitama Stadium six years ago.

The visitors, thoroughly outplayed by Reds, scored a consolation in the 90th minute through midfielder Dagno Siaka.

In Group E, Vegalta Sendai remained winless on the year, drawing 1-1 with Jiangsu Sainty in China.

“We lost our first match in China so we had to win today, no matter what,” Urawa manager Mihailo Petrovic said, referring to the 3-0 away defeat to Guangzhou Evergrande on Feb. 26.

“We led early and they had a man sent off. We pretty much had the game in the bag after we scored a second. Winning three points today was the most important thing, and we did that.”